Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?

Abstract

This book defends the reasonableness of believing that Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead. It mounts both historical arguments and theological arguments. There are only two alternatives as a historical matter: either Jesus actually rose from the dead, or else his bereaved disciples saw hallucinatory visions and were fooled by them. Indebted to N. T. Wright, this book argues that historical evidence points to the former scenario. The Gospels were backed by eyewitnesses who were living and telling their stories even during the time of the writing of the Gospels. In addition, “history” is not a neutral category; to know what history actually is, it is necessary to know whether or not there is a Creator God who loves his creatures. Furthermore, there is every reason to consider the Scriptures of Israel to belong to the background evidence by which scholars and inquirers evaluate the credibility of the testimony to Jesus’ Resurrection. The historical evidence for this event will be more credible to those who cultivate an ability to contemplate the whole. The book also addresses the question of why, after Jesus rose from the dead, he did not continue to show himself in his glorified flesh. Jesus’ entire mission is predicated upon helping us to avoid cleaving to the present world over God. He is leading us to where he is—the kingdom of God, the beginning of the new creation at the Father’s right hand.